Jackson Family expands Sonoma empire

Jackson Family Wines has continued its acquisition trail with the purchase of Ramal West Vineyard in the Sonoma Coast region of California.

Sonoma’s famous coastal fog

The site in Carneros, which was bought for an undisclosed sum, includes 200 acres of vineyard specialising in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with the potential to plant a further 70 acres.

This portfolio addition follows just four months after Jackson Family Wines bought Clarendon Vineyard in McLaren Vale, Australia, for more than $10 million.

Speaking to the drinks business last year, the company’s chairwoman Barbara Banke confirmed ambitions for further international expansion, emphasising a commitment to “estate-driven” purchases “at the high quality end of the wine spectrum”.

Jackson Family Vineyards already works across 14,000 acres in California, with wineries in Sonoma, Napa, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Mendocino.

Ramal West Vineyard was planted in the mid-1980s by Buena Vista Winery, which last year fell victim to consolidation moves by its parent company Ascentia.

This saw its operations shift to Ascentia’s Geyser Peak facility last year, with the decision to source fruit from throughout Sonoma Country instead of just Carneros.

Earlier this month Ascentia sold its Geyser Peak brand to Accolade Wines as part of a $20m package, which included the lease of the Geyser Peak winery.